FIRE 


ESCAPE 


library 

Columbia  university 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/covertfireescapeOOcove 


The  Covert  Fire  Escape 

is  the  latest  and  best  device  yet  perfected 
for  general  use  as  a protection  to  life  in 
case  of  fire  :::::: 


Every  Building 
Absolutely  Safe 

when  equipped  with  this 
Fire  Escape,  because  every 
window  and  opening  is  pro- 
vided with  a perfectly  safe 
means  of  egress  : : 


Simple  ::  Safe  ::  Inexpensive 


Covert  Fire  Escape  Co. 

Troy,  N.  Y. 

Works,  Corner  Hamilton  and  Paine  Sts,,  Green  Island,  N.  Y. 


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HIS  invention  differs  materially 
from  the  old-fashioned  “balcony” 
type  of  Fire  Escape  and  all  other 
Fire  Escape  devices  and  appliances,  and 
when  applied  to  a building  will  be  within 
reach  of  every  window  or  opening,  and 
can  be  erected  at  a comparatively  small 
cost. 

When  a building  is  equipped  with  the 
old-fashioned  balcony  or  platform  Escape, 
persons  wishing  to  reach  the  same  may 
have  to  pass  through  halls  filled  with  smoke 
and  possibly  fire,  or  grope  through  the 
darkness,  as  the  lighting  apparatus  may 
have  been  destroyed  by  the  fire  and  their 
means  of  reaching  the  Escape  thus  hamp- 
ered or  cut  off.  But  with  the 

Covert  Fire  Escape 

all  that  is  necessary  to  do  is  to  reach  out 
of  the  window,  grasp  the  hand  rail,  place 
the  feet  on  the  foot  rail,  and  move  along 
to  the  nearest  sectional  ladder  leading 
direct  to  the  ground. 


[2] 


When  a building  is  properly  equipped 
with  this  hire  Escape  each  room  and 
window  is  provided  with  a permanent  safe 
and  rapid  egress  to  the  street. 

There  is  always  a feeling  of  content- 
ment among  the  occupants  of  a building 
equipped  with  the  Covert  Fire  Escape, 
they  get  familiar  with  the  hand  rails  cross- 
ing the  windows,  and  in  case  of  fire  will 
not  lose  their  heads  and  cause  a panic  by 
blocking  passageways,  etc. 

Statistics  prove  that  more  lives  are  lost 
by  suffocation  than  by  actual  burning. 

Furthermore  the  rails  crossing  the 
windows  are  a protection  at  all  times. 


Chief  Krug  of  the  Hartford,  Ct.,  Fire 
Department  says,  “that  one  grand,  good 
thing  about  the  Covert  Fire  Escape  is, 
that  it  makes  every  window  it  passes  a 
Fire  Escape.” 

[3] 


1 I 


HE  old  fashioned  bal- 
cony style  of  Fire 
Escape  has  a tendency 
with  its  great  weight  to  pull  a 
wall  down,  or  fall  when  occu- 
pied by  a number  of  people. 

The 

Covert  Fire  Escape 

is  so  light  in  weight,  but  so 
strong  in  construction,  that  this 
serious  objection  is  entirely 
removed. 

Instead  of  weakening  the 
building  it  strengthens  it. 

The  latest  and  best  device 
yet  perfected  for  general  use 
as  a protection  to  life  in  case 
of  fire. 

The  rapidity  with  which 
this  Eire  Escape  is  superceding 
all  other  forms  of  Fire  Escapes 
shows  that  the  public  are  alive 
to  the  fact  that  it  is  superior  to 
all  others. 


[4] 


room. 


It  Aids  the  Firemen 


Testimonial 


SIMONS  & ALDRICH 


Investment  Securities 

CYRUS  W.  SIMONS  LI.  M.  ALDRICH 

Watertown,  N.  Y.,  September  15,  1906. 
Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Gentlemen:- — Yours  of  the  14th  inst.  duly  received  this  morn- 
ing. In  reply:  It  gives  us  great  pleasure  to  say  a kind  word 
for  the  Fire  Escape  installed  by  you  on  the  Hotel  LeRay  build- 
ing in  this  city.  We  believe  that  it  meets  all  the  requirements 
of  a hotel  fire  escape,  and  will  not  only  prove  an  easy  means  of 
egress  for  guests,  but  will  also  be  of  great  assistance  to  a fire 
brigade  in  making  entrance  to  the  various  floors. 

Very  truly  yours, 

THE  LeRAY  REALTY  CO.,  Per  C.  W.  SIMONS,  President. 

r s ] 


Chief  Morrison  and  a detail  of  the  Watertown  Fire  Depart- 
ment testing  the  equipment  on  LeRay  Hotel. 

Note  line  of  hose  run  up  to  top  floor  over  hand  rail  and  into 


Of  Interest  to  Architects 

Owing  to  lightness  of  lines  in  the  con- 
struction of  this  Fire  Escape  it  does  not 
prove  an  eye  sore  as  is  the  case  with  the 
platform  or  balcony  type,  but  rather  lends 
itself  to  the  general  design  of  the  facade. 

It  Does  Not  Disfigure 
a Building 


View  of  the  Sectional  Ladder,  showing  how  it  is 
assembled.  The  ladder  is  secured  to  the  building  with 
expansion  shields  and  bolts. 


Method  of  securing  the  Hand  and  Foot  Rails  to  the 
building  with  expansion  shields  and  bolts. 


[6] 


A Description  of  the  Fire 
Escape  and  Method 
of  Erection 


The  Covert  Fire  Escape  is  intended  to  provide  means  for 
the  occupants  of  a burning  building  to  leave  by  any  window 
and  make  their  way  to  the  nearest  ladder  by  which  they  may 
descend  to  the  ground.  It  consists  of  two  rails,  the  upper  one 
being  used  as  a Hand  rail  and  the  lower  one  as  a Foot  rail.  These 
rails  are  of  ordinary  one  inch  wrought-iron  pipe,  made  up  in  the 
usual  manner  with  elbows  and  couplings,  which  are  supported 
with  special  drop-forged  brackets.  The  maximum  distance 
between  brackets  being  four  feet,  each  bracket  is  attached  to 
the  building  by  means  of  three  expansion  bolts.  The  rails  are 
placed  about  three  and  one-half  or  four  feet  apart,  which  is 
enough  to  accommodate  an  average  sized  person,  and  at  the  same 
time  not  too  great  a distance  to  prevent  a small  child  from  reach- 
ing the  Hand  rail  when  standing  on  the  Foot  rail.  The  brackets 
hold  the  rails  four  and  one-half  inches  from  the  wall,  which  on  an 
average  person,  brings  the  rail  under  the  ball  of  the  foot,  when 
the  toe  touches  the  building,  and  leaves  a place  wide  enough  for 
the  arm  to  be  put  around  the  Hand  rail,  but  not  so  wide  that  a 
child’s  foot  would  be  liable  to  slip  through.  These  rails  are  secured 
to  the  building  as  permanent  fixtures,  and  in  time  of  fire  will  not 
only  afford  means  of  escape  for  the  people  within  the  building, 
but  will  also  be  a convenience  to  firemen,  the  Hand  and  Foot 
rails  giving  a secure  hold  for  their  scaling  ladders,  allowing  the 
firemen  to  reach  any  part  of  the  building  for  the  purpose  of  ac- 
celerating the  escape  of  such  persons  who  are  unable,  or  too 
timid  to  hel^o  themselves,  and  also  to  greatly  facilitate  the  work 
of  the  fire  department  in  other  directions.  The  specially  con- 
structed ladder  is  made  up  of  separate  sections,  and  of  “U”  form, 
which  are  fastened  by  expansion  bolts  to  the  wall,  two  bolts 
being  used  for  every  foot  of  ladder.  In  applying  the  ladder 
to  the  building  the  top  section  is  first  secured  by  means  of  a 
specially  constructed  plate,  and  the  remaining  sections  added  one 
at  a time  one  beneath  the  other.  The  construction  is  one  that 
gives  great  strength  and  rigidity. 


A Practical  Test 

This  illustration  is  reproduced  from  a photograph  of  a sec- 
tion of  a factory  building  equipped  with  our  Fire  Escape.  Note 
the  great  weight  on  the  upper  rails  at  the  front  of  the  building — 
the  combined  weight  of  men  and  boys  being  over  two  thousand 
pounds. 

At  a recent  test  made  at  this  factory,  on  the  Are  alarm  being 
sounded  the  employees  vacated  the  building  by  way  of  the  Fire 
Escape  and  reached  the  ground  in  exactly  twenty-eight  seconds. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  do  this  with  any  other  form  of 
Fire  Escape. 

Protect  Your  Factory 
and  Your  Home 

With  the  Latest  and  Best  Means  of  Saving  Life 

Delays  are  Dangerous 

Write  us  to-day  for  full  particulars  and  cost  of  equipping 
your  buildings. 


[8] 


Rear  of  New  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building,  Troy,  N.  Y. 
CENTRAL  YOUNG  MEN’S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 

10  First  St.,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  IS,  1907. 

Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y., 

Gentlemen: — ‘Replying  to  your  communication  in  reference 
to  the  Fire  Escape  you  placed  on  the  new  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building 
about  two  years  ago,  I am  pleased  to  say,  that  same  has  given 
perfect  satisfaction  to  all  concerned. 

We  hope  it  will  never  be  necessary  to  use  it,  but  should  a 
fire  occur  we  feel  confident  that  the  occupants  of  the  building, 
especially  those  rooming  in  the  dormitories,  will  be  able  to  make 
a rapid  exit,  and  great  loss  of  life  be  prevented.  Your  Fire 
Escape  is  neat  in  appearance  and  allows  so  much  more  egress 
from  a building  than  does  the  old  fashioned  balcony  or  platform 
escape,  and  at  the  same  time  is  moderate  in  cost. 

Wishing  you  success,  I am, 

Yours  truly, 

HERBERT  P.  LANSDALE,  General  Secretary. 


[9] 


Expert  Testimony 

CITY  OF  TROY— DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  SAFETY 
Charles  I.  Webster,  Com.  of  Public  Safety.  Patrick  Byron,  Chief. 

Bureau  of  Fire,  Chief’s  Office, 

Troy,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  12th.  1904. 

Gentlemen: — On  October  5th,  last,  I witnessed  the  test  of  the 
Covert  Fire  Escape  on  Factory  Buildings  at  Watervliet  and  was 
very  much  pleased  with  the  easy  manner  the  factory  hands 
vacated  the  building  by  means  of  such  Escape. 

Having  been  a fire  fighter  all  my  life,  and  occupying  the  posi- 
tion of  Chief  of  the  Troy  Fire  Department  fourteen  years  and 
Assistant  Chief  eleven  years  previously,  I have  made  a study  of 
the  various  forms  of  Fire  Escapes  in  use,  and  have  no  hesitation 
in  stating  that  the  Covert  Fire  Escape  is  one  of  the  best  and  most 
practical  for  Hotels,  Factories  and  all  public  buildings. 

Yours  very  truly,  PATRICK  BYRON. 

HEADQUARTERS  GLOVERSVILLE  FIRE  DEPT. 

R.  A.  Maxon,  Chief. 

Gloversville,  N.  Y„  Sept.  13th,  1905. 

The  Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y., 

Gentlemen: — After  a careful  inspection  of  your  Fire  Escapes 
recently  placed  on  the  factories  of  Levor  & New  and  Steele  Bros., 
in  this  city,  it  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  recommend  it  as  the 
best  of  its  kind  on  the  market  to-day.  Very  truly  yours, 

R.  A.  MAXON,  Chief  Fire  Department. 

HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  FIRE  DEPARTMENT, 
PLATTSBURGH,  N.  Y. 

August  25th,  1905. 

Gentlemen: — I have  observed  with  great  interest  your  recent 
equipment  of  the  New  Cumberland  Hotel,  the  Devlin  House,  and 
the  Bon  Air  Hotel  with  your  Fire  Escape.  As  a fire  fighter  I have 
made  it  my  business  to  acquaint  myself  with  the  various  forms  of 
Fire  Escapes  in  use,  and  I must  say  that  your  Fire  Escape  fills 
the  bill  in  every  particular  and  is  the  best  Fire  Escape  I have  ever 
seen,  as  a person  can  with  ease  vacate  any  building  on  which 
your  Escape  is  erected,  and  I cannot  see  how  it  would  be  pos- 
sible for  any  loss  of  life,  in  case  of  a fire  occurring  in  any  build- 
ing so  equipped.  W.  T.  BURLEIGH,  Chief  Engineer. 

Greenwich,  N.  Y„  Sept.  8th,  1905. 

To  The  Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y., 

Gentlemen: — For  some  time  the  question  of  equipping  our 
public  buildings  with  Fire  Escapes  has  been  agitated  by  this 
Board. 

We  recently  passed  a resolution  compelling  the  placing  of 
Fire  Escapes  on  all  public  buildings,  etc.  When  the  model  of  your 
Fire  Escape  was  first  exhibited  here  some  weeks  ago,  we  saw  at 
once  its  practicability,  and  at  that  time  said  that  we  would 
sanction  its  erection  on  the  places  needing  Fire  Escapes  in  this 
village.  Since  its  erection  on  the  Hill  Block  and  the  Wilmarth 
Building,  several  of  the  Trustees  have  thoroughly  tested  the 
Escape  by  giving  it  a number  of  trials,  and  we  have  no  hesitation 
in  endorsing  same,  as  we  consider  it  by  far  the  best  and  safest 
Fire  Escape  we  have  ever  seen. 

By  Order  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 

JOHN  A.  McDOUGALL,  President. 

[10] 


Expert  Testimony 

BOARD  OF  PUBLIC  SAFETY— FIRE  DEPARTMENT 
Office  of  Chief. 

Watertown,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  24th,  1906. 

Covert  Fire  Escape  Co., 

Dear  Sirs: — I take  pleasure  in  saying-  to  you  that,  after 
making  a test  of  your  Fire  Escape,  I can  recommend  it  as  being 
the  finest,  simplest,  cheapest  and  most  practical  arrangement 
for  a fire  escape  that  has  ever  come  to  my  notice. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

F.  MORRISON,  Chief  Fire  Department. 


OFFICE  OF  BUILDING  INSPECTOR,  CITY  HALL. 

Montreal,  Canada,  Oct.  20th,  1905. 
Covert  Fire  Escape  Company,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  U.  S.  A., 

Gentlemen: — I have  seen  your  model  of  “The  Covert  Fire 
Escape’’  and  vj;ill  approve  same  as  fulfilling  the  requirements 
of  the  Montreal  Building  By-Laws,  No.  260.  Yours  very  truly, 
BUREAU  OF  BUILDING  INSPECTION, 

Z.  Benoit,  Chief  Fire  Dept.  Alcide  Chausse,  Chief  Inspector 


HEADQUARTERS  UTICA  FIRE  DEPT. 

Chief  Engineer’s  Office. 

Utica,  N.  Y .,  March  12th,  1900. 

To  Whom  It  May  Concern: 

This  is  to  certify  that  I have  examined  into  the  merits  of 
the  Covert  Fire  Escape,  made  by  a firm  of  the  same  name  at  Troy, 
N.  Y.  I do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  they  have  a very  creditable 
article.  They  have  been  placed  upon  buildings  in  this  citj  and  I 
have  not  the  least  hesitation  in  commending  them  to  the  use  of 
any  person  having  need  for  a Fire  Escape. 

(Signed.)  DANIEL  J.  SULLIVAN, 

Chief  Engineer  Fire  Department,  Utica,  N.  Y. 


NEWARK  FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 

Newark,  New  York,  May  3d,  1906 
Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y.: 

Gentlemen — Some  time  ago  the  Village  Trustees  passed  an  or- 
dinance compelling  public  halls  and  hotels  to  have  iron  fire  escapes 
erected  on  same.  Numerous  fire  escape  concerns  submitted  mod- 
els of  “escapes,”  but  yours  was  thought  the  best,  and  I quickly 
gave  you  my  approval  for  their  erection  in  this  Village.  For 
factories  and  hotels  I think  there  is  no  Fire  Escape  that  can 
equal  the  Covert.  Yours  very  truly, 

M.  J.  FLYNN,  Chief  Engineer. 


Newark,  N.  J.,  January  3d,  1907 
We,  the  undersigned,  have  examined  the  Covert  Fire  Escape 
and  have  no  hesitation  in  endorsing  the  same,  as  we  consider  it 
by  far  the  best  and  safest  Fire  Escape  we  have  ever  seen,  not  only 
as  a life  saver,  but  it  would  also  be  a great  help  to  firemen  in 
case  of  fire. 

W.  C.  ASTLEY,  Deputy  Chief  Fire  Department. 

HENRY  S.  MARTIN,  Supt.  Salvage  Corps. 

NIAGARA  FIRE  INSURANCE  CO..  E.  A.  Lyon,  Mgr. 


[11] 


Incorporated  1891.  Paid  Up  Capital,  $200,000. 

LAKE  PLACID  CLUB 

MELVIL  DEWEY,  Pres.  ASA  O.  GALLUP,  Treas. 

Essex  Co.,  N.  Y.,  April  24th.  1907. 

Fire  Escapes  on  Lake  Placid  Club. — The  clumsy  hideousness 


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Gentlemen: 


[ 13] 


Wagner  House,  Saratoga  Springs, 


Hotel  Martin,  Utica,  N.  Y. 


HOTEL  MARTIN, 

Wm.  M.  Martin,  Proprietor, 

Utica,  N.  Y.,  March  12,  1906. 
Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

The  “Escape  surpasses  my  highest 
expectations,  and  I now  consider  my 
hotel  the  best  equipped  with  Fire 
Escapes  of  any  in  Utica,  and  it  is  with 
great  pride  that  I inform  my  guests 
that  each  room  is  so  arranged  that  in 
case  of  a fire  descent  does  not  have  to 
be  made  by  sliding  down  a rope.  A 
few  days  ago  Chief  Sullivan  of  the 
Utica  Fire  Department,  made  a per- 
sonal inspection  of  my  Ho- 
tel and  warmly  congratu- 
lated me  in  regard  to  your 
Fire  Escape.  He,  with  a 
number  of  other  firemen, 
tried  the  “Escape”  from 
several  windows  and  when 
he  reached  the  ground  said 
that  it  was  one  of  the  best 
that  he  had  ever  seen. 
WILLIAM  M.  MARTIN, 

Proprietor. 


QUAYLE  & SON. 

Steel  Engravers  and 
Jewelry  Men 

Albany,  N.Y.,  Oct.  26,  ’07 
The  Covert  Fire  Escape 
Co.,  Green  Island,  N.Y. 
Gentlemen: — We  are 
pleased  with  the  fire  es- 
cape which  you  have 
erected  on  our  building. 
It  has  been  favorably 
commented  on  at  differ- 
ent times.  In  appear- 
ance it  is  more  pleasing 
than  the  ordinary  plat- 
form device. 

We  trust  that  we  shall 
not  have  an  opportunity 
to  test  its  merits. 

Yours  very  truly, 
QUAYLE  & SON  COR- 
PORATION. 

By  Oliver  A.  Quayle. 


Fire  Escape 

Bldg. 


[14] 


A Section  of  Steele  Bros.’  Factory,  Gloversville,  N.Y. 


Testimonial  from  Employees. 

Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  August  10th,  1905. 
TO  THE  COVERT  FIRE  ESCAPE  CO.,  TROY,  N.  Y. 

We,  the  undersigned  employees  of  the  Glove  Factory  of  Steele 
Brothers,  have  thoroughly  tested  the  Fire  Escape  recently  erected 
by  you,  having  been  out  on  it  a number  of  times,  and  we  would 
have  no  hesitation  in  vacating  the  building  by  its  means  at  any 
time.  We  all  feel  perfectly  safe  in  case  a fire  should  occur,  as 
we  could  all  reach  the  ground  in  safety. 

Miss  Josephine  Chevalier,  Geo.  Hillary, 

Mrs.  Hattie  Staley,  Mrs.  Debbia  Campbell, 

Mrs.  Arthur  Kennicutt,  Miss  Maggie  Donnelly, 

Miss  Freda  Berger,  William  Serviss,  John  Campbell, 

Mrs.  Lizzie  Myers,  Allen  Mead,  Miss  Clara  Ringleka, 

Mrs.  Lillian  Bradley,  Mrs.  Lucy  Brown,  Mrs.  J.  Smith, 

Dan  Bridge,  Lewis  Chamberlain. 


[16] 


DEVLIN  HOUSE, 

John  Devlin,  Prop. 

17  Margaret  St. 

Plattsburgh,  N.  Y., 

Aug.  26,  1905. 

Covert  Fire  Escape  Co., 

Troy,  N.  Y. 

Gentlemen: — In  reply 
to  your  communication 
would  say  that  I am 
more  than  pleased  with 
Fire  Escape  you  recent- 
ly put  on  my  Hotel.  As 
you  know,  it  was  my 
intention  to  , erect  a Bal- 
cony Escape,  but  you 
persuaded  me  to  adopt 
the  Covert  Escape,  and 
I am  very  glad  I took 
your  advice.  We  tested 
the,  Escape  last  week  and  about  fifteen  of  my  guests  vacated  the  building 
by  its  means,  a boy  of  eleven  years  and  a man  over  seventy  years  of  age 
being  among  the  number.  Everybody  speaks  highly  of  the  ease  with 
which  they  can  vacate  the  building,  and  I would  recommend  anyone  con- 
templating erecting  a Fire  Escape  to  place  the  Covert  Fire  Escape  on 
their  building.  I predict  great  success  for  your  invention  and  think  that 
when  your  Escape  is  generally  adopted  it  will  be  the  means  of  saving 
many  lives.  Very  truly  yours,  JOHN  DEVLIN. 


LEVOR  & NEW, 

Manufacturers  of  Shoe  Leather, 

Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  Aug  8,  1905. 
The  Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Gentlemen: — Referring  to  your  recent  equipment  of  three 
of  our  factory  buildings  with 
your  Fire  Escape,  would 
say  that  in  our  opinion  it  is 
the  best  Fire  Escape  we  have 
ever  seen.  The  Fire  Escape 
has  been  tested  a number  of 
times  by  our  employees,  and 
they  vacate  the  building  by 
means  of  same  with  such  ease 
that  we  have  no  hesitancy  in 
recommending  it  to  be  placed 
on  any  factory,  hotel  or  other 
public  building,  as  every  win- 
dow affords  a means  of  exit, 
thereby  doing  away  with 
crowding  which  always  causes 
a panic.  Since  the  equip- 
ment of  our  buildings  with 
your  Fire  Escape  we  feel  that 
the  small  amount  expended 
has  been  well  laid  out,  as  we 
know  that  if  a fire  should  oc- 
cur, that  every  one  of  our  em- 
ployees would  safely  reach 
the  ground. 

Yours,  very  truly, 

LEVOR  & NEW, 

Per  W.  E.  Stockamore,  Supt. 


[17] 


INTERSTATE  SHIRT  & COLLAR  CO. 

MANUFACTURERS  OF  SHIRTS,  COLLARS  AND  CUFFS. 

Troy,  N.  Y.,  January  31,  ’07. 
Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y., 

Gentlemen: — We  are  very  much  pleased  with  the  Fire  Escape 
you  placed  on  the  building  which  is  occupied  by  us  as  a collar 
and  shirt  factory.  We  feel  certain  that  if  a fire  should  occur, 
that  every  one  of  our  employees  could  leave  the  building  safely 
as  your  Fire  Escape  affords  so  many  exits  on  all  of  the  floors 
that  we  have  help  employed  on. 

Yours  very  truly, 

INTERSTATE  SHIRT  & COLLAR  CO., 

JOHN  V.  WILSON,  Vice-Pres. 

[18] 


Testimonial. 


Office 

HARRY  S.  VAN  KLEECK, 

Manufacturer  of  Brushes, 

651-653  Third  Avenue. 

Upper  Troy,  N.  Y.,  October  1st,  1906. 
Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Several  weeks  ago  your  men  completed  the  erection  of  your 
Fire  Escape  on  my  Brush  Factory.  My  building  had  always  been 
passed  by  the  Factory  Inspectors  as  they  considered  my  stair- 
ways as  amply  sufficient  means  of  vacating  the  factory,  but  when 
I saw  your  Fire  Escape  I saw  at  once  its  practicability  and 
thought  that  my  employees  would  feel  safer  if  an  Escape  was 
placed  on  the  factory. 

I fully  considered  the  matter  and  quickly  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  your  company  had  the  best  and  cheapest  Fire  Escape 
made.  Your  work  has  been  greatly  complimented  and  I am  very 
much  pleased  with  the  Fire  Escape.  Yours  truly, 

H.  S.  VAN  KLEECK. 


[ 19  ] 


Van  Kleeck’s  Factory,  Troy,  N.  Y. 


Testimonial  from  one  of  the  owners  of  Hotel  Allen,  Fair  Haven,  Vt. 

October  1,  1906. 

Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Gentlemen: — We  are  very  much  pleased  with  the  Fire  Escape 
and  it  looks  very  neat  and  substantial.  Yours  truly, 

C.  R.  Allen. 

F.  N.  Burt  Co.,  Paper  Box  Specialists. 

Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Oct.  5th,  1906. 
Covert  Fire  Escape  Co.,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Gentlemen — Taking  up  your  letter  of  Sept.  14th  again,  would 
say  that  I employed  a photographer  to  take  pictures  of  our  fac- 
tory C.  He  took  one  showing  employees  on  fire  escapes. 

As  to  a testimonial,  I hardly  know  what  to  say,  as  we  have 
never  had  any  occasion  to  use  them,  and  we  hope  we  never  will, 
but  if  we  had  not  thought  they  were  a sensible  and  practical  fire 
escape,  we  should  never  have  given  you  an  order  for  them.  Several 
builders  and  other  business  men  have  noticed  the  escapes  and 
commented  favorably  on  them.  What  appeals  to  us  is  that — 

1.  They  do  not  deface  a building  and  are  easily  kept  in  order, 
which  is  not  the  case  with  balcony  escapes,  which  require  constant 
care. 

2.  When  a fire  occurs  it  is  seldom  that  the  fire  itself  hurts 
any  one.  It  is  the  smoke  that  suffocates  them,  and  the  fire  only 
reaches  them  after  they  are  unconscious.  With  your  Escapes  the 
people  can  get  out  into  the  air  from  any  window,  and  can  be 
rescued  even  if  they  cannot  get  down  the  ladders. 

Yours  truly,  F.  N.  BURT  CO.,  Per  F.  N.  Burt. 

[20] 


AVERY  LIBRARY 


A Section  of  the  New  Richardson  Hotel,  Lowell,  Mass. 


Extract  from  the  “LOWELL  SUN“  Friday,  July  13t'h,  1906. 

“The  tragic  features  of  the  fire  at  the  Richardson  Hotel  are 
“still  recalled  with  vivid  recollection.  As  two  different  forms  of 
“Fire  Escapes  were  proven  to  have  their  faults  in  the  memorable 
“fire,  when  three  persons  lost  their  lives  and  eighteen  were  badly 
“injured,  it  was  the  first  thought  of  the  owners  upon  rebuilding 
“the  hotel  to  get  the  best  Fire  Escape  the  market  affords.  After 
“carefully  inspecting  the  different  kinds,  they  decided  upon  the 
“COVERT  PATENT  FIRE  ESCAPE,  and  it  was  put  on  all  four 
“sides  of  the  building  forthwith — Proprietor  Cushing  when  asked 
“his  opinion  of  the  new  system  said:  ‘I  have  spent  a good  deal 
“of  time  and  money  in  search  of  a perfectly  safe  Fire  Escape, 
“and  I believe  that  I have  procured  the  best  thing  to  be  found.’  ” 


[ 21] 


Partial  List  of  Buildings 

Equipped  with  the  Covert  Fire  Escape 


TROY,  N.  Y. 

Interstate  Shirt  & Collar  Co.’s 
Factory. 

Central  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Building 
Troy  Club 
Rensselaer  Hotel 
Everett  House 
Waverly  Hotel 

Wilbur-Campbell-Stephens  Col- 
lar Factory 

Harry  S.  Van  Kleeck’s  Brush 
Factory 
Dania  Hall 

C.  W.  Ferguson’s  Collar  Factory 
The  Caldwell  Apartment  House 
E.  W.  Edwards  & Son’s  Depart- 
ment store 

Salvation  Army  Hotel 
Troy  Industrial  Home  for  Men 
Bachelor  Apartment  House,  376 
River  St. 

Tibbitts’  Estate  Factory  Bld’g, 
Maiden  Lane 

Cluett,  Peabody  & Co.’s  Annex 
Lansingburgh  Masonic  Temple 
Peterson’s  Apartment  Houses. 

4th  and  Fulton  Sts. 

W.  H.  Frear’s  Apartment  House, 
43  4th  St. 

W.  & L.  E.  Gurley’s  Apartment 
House,  454  Fulton  St. 
Samaritan  Hospital 

SYRACUSE,  N.  Y. 

W.  H.  H.  Chamberlin’s  Printing 
House 

Hall  & McChesney’s  Printing 
House 

Edward  Joy’s  Office  and  Factory 
Building 

Wyckoff’s  Factory  Bld’g 
Paragon  Plaster  Co.’s  Factory 

FRANKFORT,  N.  Y. 

Masonic  Temple 

SCHENECTADY,  N.  Y. 

Tenement  House,  319  Front  St. 

ST.  JOHNSVILLE,  N.  Y. 

Roth  & Engelhardt’s  Piano  Fac- 
tory 

NEW  ROCHELLE,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  Mary  A.  Gibson’s  Office 
Bld'g. 

EARLVILLE,  N.  Y. 

Lewis  Knitting  Co. 

GLOVERSVILLE,  N.  Y. 

Levor  & New’s  Factory 
Steele  Bros.’  Factory 
Arietta  Building 

PLATTSBURG,  N.  Y. 
Devlin  House 
Bon  Air  Hotel 
Cumberland  Hotel 
Mrs.  C.  A.  Schuyler’s  Block 
Coffey  & Fitzpatrick’s  Tenement 
House 


GREENWICH,  N.  Y. 

The  Hill  Block 
The  Wilmarth  Block 
I.  D.  Powell’s  Block 

UTICA,  N.  Y. 

Hotel  Martin 
Hotel  Albert 
Yates  Hotel 
Metropolitan  Hotel 
Leahy’s  Laundry 
Railroad  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

John  D.  Bumph’s  Tenement 
House 

HOOSICK  FALLS,  N.  Y. 

Holmes  Block 

WATERVLIET,  N.  Y. 

Covert  Mfg.  Co.’s  Snap  Factory 

ALBANY,  N.  Y. 

St.  Joseph's  School  and  Sister’s 
Home 

Quayle  & Son’s  Printing  House 
Frank  B.  Graves  Building 

VALATIA,  N.  Y. 

Valatia  Knitting  Co.’s  Mill 

AUBURN,  N.  Y. 

Women’s  Union  Building 

WATERTOWN,  N.  Y. 

The  LeRay  Hotel 

BINGHAM  PTON,  N.  Y. 

Noyes’  Comb  Factory 

OLD  FORGE,  N.  Y. 

Hess’  Camp 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

F.  N.  Burt  Box  Factory 

SCHUYLERVILLE,  N.  Y. 

Hotel  Schuyler 

HERKIMER,  N.  Y. 

Wagner  Couch  Co.'s  Factory 

BALLSTON  SPA.,  N.  Y. 

San  Souci  Building 

POUGHKEEPSIE,  N.  Y. 

Poughkeepsie  Queen  Under  Mus- 
lin Co.’s  Factory 
Poughkeepsie  Chair  Co. 

NEWARK,  N.  Y. 

Gardenier's  Hotel 

Miller  Hotel 

Red  Men’s  Hall 

Wayne  Wheel  Co.’s  Factory 

Newark  Tobacco  Co.’s  Factory 

HORNELL,  N.  Y. 

George  Conderman’s  Building 

RENSSELAER,  N.  Y. 

Harder  Knitting  Co.’s  Factory 

[ 22  1 


LAKE  PLACID,  N.  Y. 

Lake  Placid  Club 

SARATOGA,  N.  Y. 

Wagner  House 

NORTHAMPTON,  MASS. 

Smith  College 
■Clark  Institute 

AUBURNDALE,  MASS. 

Ziasell  Seminary 

BERNARDSTON,  MASS. 

New  American  House 

NORTH  ADAMS,  MASS. 

Hoosac  Savings  Bank  Bld'g 

SOUTH  DEERFIELD,  MASS. 

Hotel  Lathrop 

LOWELL,  MASS. 

Richardson  Hotel 

GREENFIELD,  MASS. 

The  Weldon  Hotel 

Emil  Weissbrod's  Factory  Bld’g 

EAST  NORTH  FI  ELD,  MASS. 

The  Northfield  Hotel 

WEIRS,  N.  H. 

Hotel  Weirs 

ROCHESTER,  N.  H. 

New  City  Hotel 

NASHUA,  N.  H. 

W.  H.  Campbell’s  Box  Factory 

DOVER,  N.  H. 

Luddy  & Currier’s  Shoe  Factory 

LACONIA,  N.  H. 

J.  W.  Busiel  & Co.’s  Factory 

GOFF  FALLS,  N.  H. 

Devonshire  Mills 

LAKEPORT,  N.  H. 

H.  H.  Wood  & Co.’s  Factory 

PORTSMOUTH,  N.  H. 

Franklin  Block 

Morley  Button  Co.’s  Factory 

MIDDLETOWN,  CT. 

Chase  & Brennan  Block 

NEW  HAVEN,  CT. 

Paladium  Building- 
Tenement  House,  4S1  State  St. 
New  Haven  Clock  Co.’s  Ware- 
house 

Lorenzo  C.  Furcolo’s  Tenement 
House 

John  Starr’s  Tenement  House 
Mrs.  L.  Pashalinski’s  Tenement 
House 

GREENWICH,  CT. 

Masonic  Temple 

NORWALK,  CT. 

Masonic  Building 

WOODMONT,  CT. 

Pembroke  Hotel 

[ 23  ] 


BRIDGEPORT,  CT. 

Whiting  Building 

Geo.  E.  Crawford’s  Laundry 

STAMFORD  CT. 

C.  D.  Potter’s  Co.’s  Factory 
Fred  Berg’s  Apartment  House 

DANBURY,  CT. 

Hawes,  Von  Gal  Hat  Co.’s  Fac- 
tory 

Connett  Hat  Co.’s  Factory 

NEW  MILFORD,  CT. 

New  Milford  Hat  Co.’s  Factory 

SOUTH  MANCHESTER,  CT. 

Cheney  Bros.’  Factory 

SHELTON,  CT. 

Radcliffe  Bros.’  Factory 

DERBY,  CT. 

Sterling  Pin  Co. 

WALLINGFORD,  CT. 

International  S.lver  Co.’s  Factory 

NORWICH,  CT. 

Cadillac  Building 

The  Central  Building 

Chelsea  Savings  Bank  Building 

NEW  BRITAIN,  CT. 

North  & Judd  Mfg.  Co.’s  Factory 
Traut  & Hine  Mfg.  Co. 

Russell  & Erwin  Mfg.  Co.s  Fac- 
tory 

Corbin  Screw  Corporation 
P.  & F.  Corbin  Co.’s  Factory 
Union  Mfg.  Co.’s  Factory 

HARTFORD,  CT. 

Carrolton  Building 
Industrial  Realty  Co.’s  Tene- 
ment House 

C.  A.  Abbey’s  Apartment  House 
C.  R.  Heubler's  Block 
Evening  School,  67  Temple  St. 
Johns,  Pratt  Co.’s  Factory 
Hartford  Machine  Screw  Co.’s 
Factory 

MERIDEN,  CT. 

Palace  Block 

FAIR  HAVEN,  VT. 

Hotel  Allen 

BRATTLEBORO,  VT. 

Brooks  Hotel 

Crosby  & Adams  Block 

Estey  Organ  Co. 

BENNINGTON,  VT. 

Hotel  Putnam 

PAWTUCKET,  R.  I. 

Dexter  Yarn  Co.'s  Factory 

ORANGEBERG,  S.  CAROLINA 

State  Normal,  Industrial,  Agri- 
cultural & Mechanical  Col- 
lege 

MONTREAL,  QUEBEC 

John  Watson  & Son’s  Factory 


If  you  are  in  the  market  for  a 
Balcony  Platform  or  any  style  of 
Fire  Escape  write  us  and  we  will 
be  glad  to  quote  you  prices  ::  :: 


IVhy  IE ait  For  A Fire  ? 

::  ::  Write  at  Once  to  ::  :: 

Covert  Fire  Escape  Co. 

TROY  ::  NEW  YORK 


Works,  Cor.  Hamilton  and  Paine  Streets 
GREEN  ISLAND  ::  ::  NEW  YORK 

[24] 


AVERY  LIBRARY 
COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 


H«h*v  Itvweu  4 eo» 


